


PS 3503 
.U75 T7 
1915 
Copy 1 



Truants 



By John Preston 




* 



Truants 



Truants 



A Comedy in One Act, for Church Purposes 



By John Preston *~k^. 




HERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE 
Lamoni, Iowa 



PS 3505 



Copyright, 1915, 
BY THE AUTHOR 

AZZ rights reserved 



4°- 

©CI.D 42158 



nrT 251915 



The 
Right to Produce 

This Play 

May Be Had Only 

By Purchasing 

Seven Copies of the Same at 

Price Advertised 

From 

HERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE 

Lamoni, Iowa 



CHARACTERS 

Anna Gray A church worker 

Florence Green An enthusiastic member 

Jessie Black Rather indifferent 

Aleck White Fond of a good time 

Frank Brown Secretary of the Society 

Jimmy Blend A nonmember 



Time. The present. Place. Any large city. 



TRUAXTS 

( Scene. A bachelor-girl's living apartment. Any 
large city. A folding bed, center R and a 
small reading table beside it. The bed is 
used now as a divan. Two easy chairs cen- 
ter L, and two small chairs C back. Exit 
on L leading to hall, and on R to kitchen. 
It is evening. 

Enter Anna Gray, R, slowly, gazing at a 
small piece of paper in her hand. Crosses 
to divan and sits down.) 

Anna. (Soliloquizing) Why can't I have another ad- 
venture like that ! . . . How is it we have never met 
since, I wonder? (Gazing at slip of paper again ) 
It is a wonderful likeness — the work of a real 
artist, surely. (Sighing) Oh well, I suppose these 
things happen to every girl — 

(Enter Florence Green, L, and crossing softly 
to Anna, overhears part of the soliloquy. ) 

and she forgets all about them. It's all in a life- 
time. 

Fro. {Stands behind Anna a moment, smiling) Who 
is it? 

Anna. (Startled, tries to hide the picture) Oh! von 



frightened me! 



Flo. (Sitting beside her) I'm sorry. But your door was 
unfastened and when I heard you talking to your- 
self I just couldn't resist listening. 

Anna. (Smiling) It's a bad habit of mine, Florence — 
probably a sign that I'm creeping toward the shelf. 
What do you think? 

Flo. Won't you let me see his picture? 

Anna. Whose picture? 

Flo. His. 

Anna. You're mistaken, child. There is no him in my 
life. I'm what they call a self -sufficient being. 

Flo. Doubtless. But all the same I'd like to get one 
look at him. We don't want our Anna bestowing 
her affections on an unworthy object. 

Anna. My reputation for veracity seems to be very 
low. Didn't I just declare there was no such 
animal ? 

Flo. Have you the heart to call him an animal? 

Anna. That's what they — I mean we— all are. . . . 
But let's forget this unprofitable subject. Are you 
going to* ? 



*Fill in name of church society desired to represent. 

6 



Flo. I won't answer until you show me his picture. 

Anna. (Impulsively takes it from her waist) Well, 
bless your heart, here it is ! Can you blame me for 
soliloquizing about that? 

Flo. It's you! What a splendid drawing! Where did 
you get it? (Making a discovery) "From an un- 
known quantity, sitting on the same car with you ; 
unable to resist the temptation of sketching such 
a fine face." (A pause) Did he write that? 

Anna. (Somewhat embarrassed) You weren't sup- 
posed to turn it over. I only gave you permission 
to look at the drawing. 

Flo. But I want to know. These artists are wicked, and 
I don't want them to get you. 

Anna. (Laughingly) Well, I suppose I'll have to tell 
you. But promise you won't repeat the story? 

Flo. (Eagerly) I promise. 

Anna. Verv well ... I found that tucked in my cuff 
one night last winter after coming home from 
work. There the story ends. The artist, whoever 
he was, must have been also a slight-of-hand "ar- 
tist" or a magician of some sort, for I never even 
saw him. 

Flo. How romantic! I wish something like that would 
come my way. (Handing bach' picture) \\v must 
have been infatuated with yon. 

7 



Anna. If so, the wintry air probably sobered him when 
he left the car ; for he hasn't troubled me since. . . . 

Xow answer my question about* — . 

Are you going to-night? 

Flo. Xo. And that reminds me what I came in for, 
Anna. I want to ask a great favor of you, and 
you mustn't refuse me. You know Frank Brown 
over at the church? 

Anna. Yes. 

Flo. He's going to call on me to-night, and his folks 
are well off and a new rocker I ordered yesterday 
didn't come and I'm ashamed to entertain him in 
our apartment. There's no place for him to sit. 
Won't you please let me receive him here? I'll try 
to make him take me out to the picture show and so 
not bother you long. 

Anna. (Laughingly) But, Florence, I don't believe 
Frank would care to attend a picture theater. 



# 



Flo. Isn't he missing 

Anna. So he is. Did he do it on your account? 

Flo. Yes. I'm trying to lead him astray. He's too 
good to live, — and I do want him to live, because 
he's so nice. 

Anna. He's our secretary: and you would coax him 
away from the church to see the movies ! 

8 



Flo. It will do him good. Besides, I just want to see 
how much he would do for me. 

Anna. You are a terrible girl, Florence. . . . But wait 
till Frank starts in converting you. He may give 
way a little now, but when he is sure of you he'll 
force you to be an angel. 

Flo. For the other angels' sakes, let's hope not. But, 
Anna, you haven't granted me the big favor yet. 
Won't you please let me ? 

Anna. (Interrupting) Why certainly. But you may 
have to put up with the company of one or two 
others — however, they won't listen to your whis- 
perings. 

Flo. (Somewhat taken back) Would you mind telling 
me who the other two will be? 

Anna. Since you're worrying, perhaps I'd better. No 

one more harmful than me. 
Flo. You're entertaining, too, then? 

Anna. Yes — but we may go out. 

Flo. It isn't the artist, surely? 

Anna. No. If you must know, it's Aleck White. 

Flo. For goodness sake! That frivolous creature! Arc 
you taking him to* ? 

ANNA. I must con less I'm not. I suggested it, but lie 

9 



begged me to stay home just this once. He's 
something like you, Florence. 

Flo. (With some dignity) Oh, thank you for the 
compliment! (More seriously) Surely now, Anna, 
I'm not so bad as all that? 

Anna. Aleck is all right — and so are you. All of us 
could afford to think more of the common good, 
though, and less of our own pleasures. I feel very 
guilty myself to-night. 

Flo. If your conscience hurts, I don't know what mine 
ough to feel like. Compared to me you're a di- 
vinity. Why, everybody says you're a perfect 
seraph — and if they knew you as well as I do 
they'd make it higher still. 

Anna. (Smiling) After that, I feel I ought to prepare 
a lunch for your caller. 

Flo. You'll do no such thing. I don't believe in feed- 
ing them so much. It spoils them. 

(Enter Jessie Black, L, and crosses to other girls.) 

Jessie. Hello. Who's being scandalized? 

Flo. Anna has just been giving me some advice. 

Jessie. (Sitting beside them) No doubt you need it. 

Oh say, girls, I'm in terrible trouble. A friend is 
calling on me to-night, and I've broken my electric 
light bulb. Which of you is going out and can 
lend me your apartment for half an hour? 

10 



Flo. (Laughing) Isn't that funny! 

Anna. It looks as though we were going to have a 
party here this evening. 

Jessie. A party? 

Flo. Yes. The room has been spoken for twice al- 
ready. But if yours is something new, Jessie, I'll 
withdraw in your favor. 

Anna. No ; we can fix it all right. Both Florence and 
I may be vacating. 

Flo. (To Jessie) Won't you tell us his name? 

Jessie. (To Anna) I'll try and make him take me out, 
so as to leave the coast clear. (To Flo.) His 
name is Jimmy Blend. I met him just a week ago, 
and it's taken him all this time to decide whether 
or not he cared to call on me. 

Anna. Is he a church boy? 

Jessie. Dear no. I don't imagine there's a bit of re- 
ligion in him. 

Flo. (Mischievously) Maybe you can persuade him to 
take you to* to-night? 

Jessie. I suppose he would if I suggested it. 

Anna. (Half in earnest) Here's your chance to do 
some missionary work. 

JESSIE. Well, I wouldn't mind, if there was anything 

11 



attractive over there. But the programs have been 
so dead lately I'm ashamed to take anyone along. 

Flo. That's because Anna's been neglecting them. 
They are dead, aren't they ? How can young peo- 
ple take any interest in them? 

Jessie. It's the president's fault. 

Flo c No, I don't think so. He can't do much for fear 
of offending some of the knockers. You know the 
ones I mean. They never do anything themselves, 
but are always criticising the active ones. They 
are a dead weight on the society. I can't be both- 
ered with them, myself. 

Anna. (Rising) I must go in next door and telephone. 
(Crosses R) Don't leave till I come back. (Exit 
R.) 

Jessie. I wonder if it isn't selfish of us to ask for the 
apartment to-night? Did she have an engage- 
ment? 

Flo. Yes, she had. 

Jessie. With whom ? 

Flo. Aleck White. 

Jessie. You don't mean it! What in the world does 
she see about him to like? 

Flo. I imagine she doesn't really like him. But he 
comes round every once in a while, just as he 

12 



might come to his mother, and Anna helps him find 
his equilibrium. She's that way with everybody. 
I believe she is just humoring him to-night for his 
own good. At church, boys like him and girls 
like me are in a state of mind where preaching 
doesn't have any effect. But it's different when 
you're out for a walk, when you know you ought 

to be at* , or when you're away 

off among strangers. Anna thinks to help him by 
humoring him. 

Jessie. I know what you mean. Last summer I went 
to Nebraska and visited some relatives. They're 
terribly worldly; don't think of a thing in the world 
but a good time. And do you know, I often 
longed for this little church crowd of ours. Hu- 
man nature seems to be full of contradictions, 
doesn't it? 

Flo. Yes, and they ought to be taken into consideration 
by the leaders in our church societies, too. Young 
people are subject to moods they can't help, and — 
oh well, I suppose I'm too light-minded to be any 
good anyway. . . . But speaking of Anna: I do 
wish something would happen to make her life 
more complete. She is such a — a thoroughbred, 
and deserves so much. 

Jessie. I never thought of her, myself as being incom- 
plete. 

18 



Flo. But, all the same, she is. To-night, for instance, 
she is in a peculiar, restless state of mind. She 
wants to be at church and yet she doesn't. She 
wants to go for a walk with congenial company, 
and laugh and be gay for a change; and yet — I 
can't quite explain what I mean. 

Jessie. Don't you think we'd better both go out and 
leave her alone? 

Flo. (Absently) If only there were more supermen 
alive ! 

Jessie. Super-what? 

Flo. Men. M-e-n. More Franks and fewer Alecks. 
Jessie. (Peculiarly) Even Frank has his failings, pos- 
sibly. 

Flo. (Looking at her quickly) You said that seriously? 

Jessie. Certainly I did. Isn't it true? 

Flo. Frank is a top-notcher. The world could get 
along with a whole lot of him. 

Jessie. (Challengingly) And where would you consign 
Aleck White? 

Flo. (Smilingly) Really, Jessie, I'm beginning to get 
suspicious ! 

(Enter Anna, R, and crosses toward the other girls.) 

Jessie. (In a whisper) Can't we leave her alone and use 
your apartment? 

14 



Flo. No. I'm short of furniture. 

Jessie. (To Anna) I suppose you phoned him not to 
come, and are now going to* ? 

Anna. My conscience didn't trouble me soon enough. 
I learned that he had gone over to Brown's — prob- 
ably to call for Frank. The two of them will be 
here any minute, I expect. 

Flo. So you can't go to meeting after all? 

Anna. No. We always repent too late, don't we? 

Flo. (Roguishly) It serves Jessie right for flirting 
with an outsider. If only she'd consented to stay 
home, like a good bachelor-girl, and leave week- 
old acquaintances alone, just think what a 
chance 

Jessie. (Interrupting) I'm perfectly indifferent whom 
I entertain. 

Flo. But how about your own entertainment? 

(A knock is heard at the door, L.) 

Anna. Goodness! They've arrived already — I must 
run and fix my hair. (Crosses 1\ , hurriedly) 
Florence, you let them in. (Emt K) 

Flo. Stay near me, Jessie. (Crosses Ij) Fm getting 
scared. (Opens door) Hello boys, come in. 

(Enter Aleck White and Frank Brown.) 

15 



Aleck. Frank's lost. He wants to know where you 
are, Florence. Have you moved? 

Flo. No. Only we all thought we'd be sociable this 
evening. (Insinuatingly) That is, unless you 
boys want to go out. 

(The three of them cross toward Jessie.) 

Frank. This looks good to me right here. 

Aleck. (Spying Jessie) Why, hello Jessie! It prom- 
ises to be a jolly party. (Forces her to shake 
hands.) 

Frank. How are you, Jessie? (Shakes hands.) 

Aleck. Why aren't you people to church? 

Flo. (Mischievously) We thought we'd keep house 
and let Anna go. 

Aleck. She ran away on me did she? Well, in that 
case I'll have to pick on Jessie. 

Jessie. (Somewhat haughtily) Indeed? 

Frank. (Laughing) Come now, don't start quarreling 
so soon. Whenever you two meet you begin the 
cat-and-dog game. 

Aleck. It isn't my fault. I've been trying to act hu- 
man for a long while now, and it doesn't seem to 
help a bit. 

Flo. Are you ever serious, Aleck? 

16 



Frank. Yes; he was last night. He had a toothache. 

Jessie. Physical pain is the only thing that will do it. 

Aleck. Oh that's not fair: I'm not so selfish as all that? 

Flo. We'll be getting personal here in a minute. Let's 
talk about something else — let us say, * 



, or about someone who isn't present. 

Aleck. I vote for the former. Whenever I joke be- 
hind people's backs, it turns out that I have ma- 
liciously slandered someone. {Turns to Jessie.) 

Frank. Speaking about church: I'm afraid the base- 
ment will be rather forsaken to-night. How is it 
we all managed to play truant at once? 

(Aleck and Jessie are whispering.) 

Flo. (Aside) They didn't hear you. Let's sit down 
over here and not disturb them. 

(Frank and Flo sit on "divan.") 

Frank. I guess we'd better. But say, Flo, has Anna 
really gone over to meeting? 

Flo. No; but I wish she had. 

Frank. Why? 

Flo. There's the answer. (Pointing to the oilier two.) 

Frank. Why don't yon go and put a flea in her ear, 
then? 

17 



Flo. Because Jessie has a caller coming. 
Frank. Not another deserter from duty, I hope? 

Flo. No. A stranger. But she doesn't care anything 
about him; although he's probably worth half a 
dozen of Aleck. 

Frank. You certainly do love Alexander. What's he 
ever done to you? 

Flo. Not a thing in the world. But he's too feather- 
brained. 

Frank. (Grinning and looking at his watch) What do 
you say if we go to church after all? We've got 
time. 

Flo. No, Frank, I don't feel like it this evening. 

Frank. (Still grinning) Maybe that's the way Aleck 
feels, too. 

Flo. (Looking dangerous and moving away from him 
a little) Thank you! 

Frank. But seriously, Florence, I think it's a shame 
for us to run away like this and leave the burden 
to others. Supposing some young folks hap- 
pened in there to-night and saw only a few par- 
ents and small children — do you suppose they 
would feel like coming back ? 

Flo. They wouldn't anyway. There is no life in the 
thing. 

18 



Frank. And how can there be when you and I and the 
other fellow refuse to put life into it ? 

Jessie. Flo, let's leave them alone. I really must go 
and fix up? {Moves away from Aleck.) 

Flo. (To Frank) Do vou mind? 

Frank. Not at all. 

Aleck. {Pursuing Jessie) I say, Jessie, this isn't hos- 
pitable at all. 

Jessie. {Crossing R and eluding Aleck.) You re an 
intruder. 

Flo. (Crossing R with Jessie) I'll be back in a minute, 
boys. 

(Exeunt Jessie and Flo.) 

Aleck. (Disappointedly) Anna's here after all. 

Frank. You don't seem very glad. 

Aleck. (Seriously) Well, you know, Frank, its 
funny; but when a fellow's in danger of losing 
something he begins to want it — mighty bad. . . . 
Who do you suppose this gink is that's coming to 
see Jessie? 

Frank. Probably a millionaire or a Russian count or 
something. No telling. This is a big town, you 
know, and Jessie is not the ordinary sort. 

11) 



Aleck. Do you know, I've been thinking that very 
thing. 

Frank. That's strange. 

Aleck. And I've been thinking something else, too, 
Frank. I've been watching Anna Gray and you 
— the good people, in fact — the steady, reliable 
ones — and I've come to the conclusion that they 
always win out. Look at me, — I'm a harum 
scarum sort of chap ; fully versed in sports and all 
that kind of stuff, whereas you and Anna don't 
know Cobb from Wagner: and yet everybody 
finds you people more interesting than me. Even 
the — er — giddy ones do. 

Frank. You don't class Jessie among the latter, I 
hope? 

Aleck. Oh no. But you know what I mean. Unless 
a fellow has some sort of ballast they don't seem 
to want him. 

(Enter Anna, It, unobserved.) 

Frank. (Grinning) I believe you're going to repent, 
Aleck. 

Aleck. I do believe I am. 

Anna. ( Crossing toward the boys ) And when you do, 
Aleck, we want you for chorister. 



Aleck & 
Frank. 



Hello there. 
Hello, Anna. 

20 



Anna. (Sitting down) Did the girls go away and leave 
you? 

Frank. Don't you see how crestfallen Aleck looks? 

Anna. (Maternally) Poor boy. What's the matter 
with him to-night ? 

Aleck. I feel fine. 

Frank. Jessie is having a caller. 

Aleck. (Trying to pinch Frank, clandestinely) I had 
a bad toothache last night. 

Anna. I would have arranged matters, Aleck, if it 
hadn't been for this very caller. But your no- 
tions change so often that we never know what to 
plan for you. 

Frank. You heard him say he was going to repent, 
though ? 

Anna. Yes, and I believe it. He looks very humble 
this evening. 

Aleck. I don't like this Third Degree. Let's discuss 
something else. 

Frank. All right. Let's talk about* 

again. I wonder what the president is thinking at 
the present moment. 

Anna. It looks like a regular conspiracy against him, 
doesn't it? 

21 



Aleck. What do you say if we go even yet, Anna? 

Frank. Come now, you can't repent as suddenly as all 
that! 

Anna. (Teasingly) There's method in his madness, 
Frank. He wants to escape the visitor. 

Aleck. (Only half in earnest) I'm mad. (Rises) I'm 
going home. (Crosses rapidly L.) 

Anna. (Laughing) Aleck! We are only teasing you. 

Frank. Hey you — come back. 

( A knock is heard. Aleck, reaching door, opens 

it.) 

A man's voice. Is this where Miss Black lives? 

Aleck. (Inhospitably) No. You're in the wrong 
pew. 

Anna. (Excitedly crossing L) Aleck, ask the gentle- 
man in ! Miss Black will be here in a moment. 

(Enter Jimmy Blend.) 

Blend. My name is Blend. (Stares at her a moment.) 

Anna. (Embarrassed under his steady gaze) I am 
Miss Gray, a friend of Miss Black's. This is Mr. 
White. 

Blend. (Shaking hands with Aleck) Quite a combina- 
tion of colors. 

22 



(The three of them cross toward Frank; Aleck 
seems puzzled.) 

Anna. We have still another. Mr. Blend— Mr. 
Brown. 

Frank. (Rising and shaking hands) Glad to meet 
you, Mr. Blend. 

Anna. I will tell Jessie you are here. (Crosses and 
exit JL.) 

(After an awkward silence.) 

Frank. Did you ever notice, Mr. Blend, how hard it 
is for men to entertain each other? 

Blend. (Laughing) That's right, boys, let's get ac- 
quainted. 

Aleck. (Aside) I guess I might as well be game. (To 
Blend; good-naturedly) I suppose you realize 
that you're cutting me out to-night, do you? 

Frank. (Aside) Well, what do you know about that! 

Blend. (Grinning) Sorry, old man, but I didn't. 
However, you mustn't look at it that way. I met 
her at a little party a week or so ago and promised 
to ring her up. You know how it goes. 

Aleck. (Relieved) Yes, it's queer how we get involved. 

FRANK. You speak of it as though it were a tragedy. 

Aleck. Sometimes it is. 



Blend. I almost agree with you. These modern city 
chaps of ours are unique. Their circumstances are 
such that they are practically forced to refrain 
from becoming serious in these matters. Some of 
us who look quite prosperous are working on star- 
vation salaries, and the future is even blanker than 
the present. 

Frank. {Thoughtfully) You're right. I wonder what 
our grandfathers — or even our fathers — would 
have said to such a state of affairs. A few decades 
ago a man fell in love, got married, and let the 
rest take care of itself. You can't do that now- 
adays. 

Aleck. Sometimes I think we ought to. 

Blend. A great many do. But how do things work 
out? It would be interesting to know just what 
proportion of these reckless ones really make a 
success of it. 

Frank. Judging by the increasing numbers of unmar- 
ried girls it would seem that the failures are being 
talked about more than the successes. 

Aleck. Yes, the girls' are getting cold feet. 

Blend. And can you blame them? Can you blame a 
girl who is occupying an independent position, — 
making probably more than the young man work- 
ing beside her — if the unpleasant aspects of the 

24 



average marriage don't appeal to her? Can you 
blame her for refusing to take desperate chances? 

Frank. The chances are that if she finds a good fellow 
he will be unsuccessful. The honest don't come 
out on top, as they should, these times. And as 
for the successful variety — well, the girls are be- 
coming chary of them, it would seem. 

Blend. We talk like a lot of Socialists, don't we! . . . 
However, it really is a serious problem ; and it ac- 
counts for the unsettled habits of chaps like myself, 
I'm afraid. We can't afford to plan anything. 
It's not for us. 

Aleck. Let's change the subject: I'm getting blue. 

Frank. A fellow has to face it, though. If he keeps 
procrastinating, the battle only gets harder. 

Blend. What is the remedy, anyway? 

Aleck. Search me. 

Frank. It seems to me that it must be the gospel of 
Christ : do unto others as ye would that they should 
do unto you; and love your neighbor as yourself. 

Blend. (Gazes at Frank, interested) I don't think I 
ever heard a young fellow of your stamp express 
himself just like that before, Mr. Brown. Where 
did you get the idea? 

Aleck. He's secretary of the* . 

25 



Blend. What's that? 

Frank. It's an association of young men and women, 
mostly; and aims to educate them, and others 
through them, to the great things of life. We 
meet every week to discuss that which will make 
our lives more valuable to the world and mankind ; 
and we try to solve the problems that come up in 
our daily lives. 

Blend. That sounds mighty good to me, boys; I can't 
tell you how good. 

Aleck. (Beginning to get enthusiastic in spite of his 
reputation as a backslider, the "missionary spirit/' 
born in him perhaps, cropping out) Maybe you'll 
come out and look us over, Mr. Blend? 

Blend. I'd like to very much. 

(Enter the three girls, L, and cross toward 
boys.) 

Jessie. (After greeting Blend) This is Miss Green. 

Blend. (Smiling) What — another color! Did you 
ever see anything so remarkable in your life? 
(Gazes at Anna again.) 

Aleck. (Soliloquizing) It's a funny world, how ever 
you look at it. 

Anna. (Eyes dropping under Blend's gaze) We are 
considered a peculiar assortment. 

26 



(The company seats itself, Frank bringing up 
the two chairs from C back. Frank beside Flor- 
ence, Aleck beside Jessie, and Blend near Anna. 
He gazes at her rather too steadily at intervals 
during the remainder of the act.) 

Blend. (Considerably at home) Mr. Brown and Mr. 

White have been telling me about your* 

. Does everyone here belong? 

Jessie. Yes; but some of us are not as good members 
as we might be. 

Aleck. I second the motion. 

Flo. Mr. Brown and Miss Gray are the only really 
good ones. 

Anna. I hope that isn't sarcasm, Florence. You know, 
Mr. Blend, this happens to be meeting night. 

Blend. There— I'm disillusioned already! How did it 
happen? 

Anna. I hardly know. 

Frank. Same here. 

Flo. The elder people would call it "drifting." 

Jessie. And they wouldn't be far out, I guess. 

Aleck. {Looking at his watch) They say it's never 
too late to mend. 

27 



Frank. {Looking at his own watch) But sometimes it 
is too late to attend. 

Blend. Let's all promise to go next week. Now when 
I count three, those who favor the motion say, "I." 
One — two — three — 

Everybody. "I." 

Frank. We'll have you for one of our boosters, Mr. 
Blend, before you know where you are. 

Jessie. I suppose I shouldn't say it — but I hadn't any 
idea you were religiously inclined. 

Anna. {Shocked) Why, Jessie! 

Blend. {Smiling at Anna) You won't wonder at such 
a scathing remark, Miss Gray, when I tell you that 
Miss Black watched me dance for two hours with- 
out a rest — just about a week ago. 

Flo. Jessie at a dance! 

Blend. {Coming to the rescue) She didn't know they 
were going to turn the party into one. But she 
refused to dance, and I'm afraid she knew how, too. 

Aleck. Do you go in for it, Mr. Blend? 

Blend. No. But when I undertake anything, no mat- 
ter what it is, I like to put forth my best effort. 
If they'd been ducking apples there that night, in- 
stead of dancing, I'd have ducked just as hard as 
I danced. 

28 



Frank. If we ever get you started in our literary af- 
fairs down at* , we hope you'll act 

the same way. 

Blend. Well, I'm afraid I wouldn't be much good at 
that. I do paint a little, though. 

Flo. (Glancing from Anna to Blend) You mean 
you're an artist? 

Blend. Something of the sort. I manage to earn my 
board at it. (Looks at Anna, again, as if uncon- 
sciously. ) 

Anna. (Embarrassed — rises) I'll go and put on the 
kettle. (Crosses R and exit.) 

Blend. But, as I understand it — from the little the 
boys have told me — your society goes deeper than 
mere art and literature, doesn't it? 

Jessie. It is a religious association. 

Blend. But not in the ordinary sense. I mean — it isn't 
all praying and singing and that sort of thing. 

Flo. (Smilingly) Doesn't that appeal to you? 

Blend. Certain brands of it do. But I have no use for 
mere form. I've knocked about the world a lot, 
and I've become weary of many things — but 
wearier of hypocrisy and mock-religion than any- 
thing else. I've been trying to find really sincere 
people, especially young and congenial people — 
like this, for instance. And if after watching the 

29 



workings of your society it sounds as good as the 
little I've heard, I'll go in for it, you bet. 

Frank. There is nothing, in the way of practical up- 
lift, that our society doesn't attempt. 

Flo. (Aside to Jessie) Your friend is very interesting. 

I'm thinking he'd help out a whole lot at* 

. We need live wires, all right. 



Jessie. (Aside to Flo.) Yes. (He?* attention, how- 
ever ; is given mostly to Aleck, who sits in deep 
meditation.) 

Blend. (To Jessie) Don't let Miss Gray fuss too much 
in that kitchen. 

Aleck. (Suddenly coming out of his reverie) I'll go 
out and see if she needs anything. (Rises and 
crosses R. Exit.) 

Flo. (To Jessie, aloud) I guess we'd better go and help 
her. 

Frank. .They'll fuss now all right. 

Flo & [ Xo indeed. 

Jessie. 1 Xo we won't. (Cross and exeunt R.) 

Blend. Mr. White said you were secretary of your 
society, Mr. Brown? 

Frank. Yes. I should be there now. 

30 



Blend. (Frankly) Were you kept away or did you 
just stay away? 

Frank. Well, as a matter of fact, I stayed away to 
please Miss Green. She complains that the pro- 
grams are no good any more, and wanted a change 
for this evening. What we need is some one to 
liven things up. 

Blend. I should think you would be a good one for that. 

Frank. I may have certain talents, old man; but in a 
work like ours we need a big combination of them. 
We need all the talents we can get. 

Blend. (Seriously) I imagine that's true. 

Flo. (Sticking her head in at the door R) Frank! 

Frank. (Turning toward her) Yes? 

Flo. We want you a moment. Will you excuse us, 
Mr. Blend? 

(Frank rises and crosses R, immediately) 

Blend. Surely. (He sits musing a moment, then takes 
a piece of paper from his wallet and looks at it. 
Soliloquizes:) Yes, sir, it's the same girl! Strange 
that we should never have met again. An indi- 
vidual in a city this size is like a leaf in a forest. 
(Takes pencil and proceeds to put some finishing 
touches to the sketch) There's something about 
that face that has haunted me ever since. 

31 



(Enter Aleck, R, chewing something and 
crosses toward Blend. ) 

Aleck. Entertaining yourself? 

Blend. Yes. . . . Say, will you do me a favor? 

Aleck. (Still chewing) Sure. 

Blend. Well, tell Miss Gray I want to see her a mo- 
ment. Do it smoothly, you know — you under- 
stand 

Aleck. I'm on. Just you await results. (Crosses R 
hurriedly and exit.) 

(Blend continues his sketch.) 

(Enter Anna, R, a moment later.) 

Anna. (Crossing timidly toward Blend) You wanted 
to see me, Mr. Blend? 

Blend. (Rising and holding sketch out to her) Yes, I 
want you to look at that. 

Anna. ( Takes sketch and looks at it, blushes and stam- 
mers) Why — I 

Blend. You got the duplicate on the car then? 

Anna. (Sitting down, almost overcome) I really ought 
to be angry with you, Mr. Blend ! 

Blend. If you were the ordinary, conventional person 
you might, Miss Gray. But you're not ordinary. 

32 



This little sketch tells me that. And so I've kept 
it, hoping to run across the original again — some 
day. 

Anna. (Handing back the sketch and meeting his 
gaze, smiles) Do you know anything about mak- 
ing fudge? (Rises.) 

Blend. (Rising and smiling) I suppose I could be 
taught. 

(They cross toward R, together, glancing be- 
times at the sketch.) 

Curtain 



:v.\ 



The Pleasures of the 
World 



By John Preston 



Here is a three-act religious comedy-drama by the author 
of "Truants," and we have it on sale also for twenty-five 
cents per copy, postpaid. 

This play is artistically gotten up in a 70-page booklet, 
and is as readable as a romance. In fact, it is a romance. 
But it is more. It is a strong, absorbing piece of fact-fiction, 
dealing with questions of family life to-day. 

"The Pleasures of the World" takes two hours to present 
on the stage, and for right of production application must 
be made to the publisher or author. (See title page of 
"Truants.") There are six men and six women characters. 

READ IT 

and you will want to enact it in your church, or societies 
thereof, for charitable or educational purposes. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




